AsNew Kids On The Block singer Joey McIntyre prepares to wrap The Package Tour with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men this Sunday, he can take pride that no practical jokeshave made anyone look foolish—yet.

“We don’t do the wacky stuff,” the married father of three, 40, who performed during the Mixtape Festival at Pennsylvania’s Hershey Park this week, tells me. “One way to stay together is to not pull any pranks, because I think everybody wants to sleep at night, and not worry about who’s coming after them in revenge.”

“That dry, sardonic take on things,” the former teen idol, who played Melissa McCarthy’s brother this summer in the comedy The Heat, says. “In the New Kids, Jordan [Knight] is like the ultimate straight man. I usually take what he says and run with it, and then I take the lead with his jokes. He has a dry, semi-perverted look at things, and I don’t mean that in a sexual way, just in a weird slant, and to me that’s funny. That’s funnier to me than a weird, teargas humor, which a lot of people like, but isn’t my cup of tea.”

Indeed, the group—which also includes Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood—cherish their relationships after weathering the ups and downs that superstardom has wrought since they hit the big time with a string of hits beginning in 1988.

“What we’ve experienced over the past 25 years is special,” Joey says. “We work hard, we love to do what we do, but what we get back from the fans is so immense. We’re lucky to be doing what we do, and we enjoy each other’s company.”

He adds, “We challenge each other without saying a word. I’m inspired by each member, and what they bring to the table. That makes me want to do my best, and bring what I bring.”

Of course, working hard means playing hard and spending big on those he loves. In fact, the tour will end just in time for him to mark his 10th anniversary with wife Barrett next week. The couple are parents to Griffin, 5, Rhys, 3, and Kira, 2.

Still, while Joey doesn’t like practical jokes, he believes in being practical when it comes to lavish purchases. (He told me in 2009 he saves dinner receipts from 10-15 years back!)

Although he’s not pining for a private island, there is one investment he can’t wait to make.

“I want to buy the best education I can for my kids,” he says. “We’re so lucky to live in a nice home and be able to travel. My kids are coming off of five days on the road, and to be able to spend that kind of money to see my kids and spend time. To me, that’s the greatest gift. If my kids can learn the way they want to and get a great education, and they can put food on the table, then to me, that’s all I could ever want.”